Summary of Lagos State’s Crackdownโ on Illegal Land โคReclamation & Flood Control Efforts (as of September โข2025)
This article detailsโค Lagos State’s intensified efforts too combat illegal โland โreclamation โฃand waterfront โคencroachment, and its broader strategy for floodโ control and environmental resilience. โฃHere’s a โbreakdown of the โฃkey points:
The Problem:
* Illegal Reclamation: unauthorized โขland โreclamation and waterfront encroachment are rampant, blocking drainage channels and considerably โcontributing to frequent flooding, especially during theโค rainy season.
* Continued Violations: โ Despite public warnings issued in โ The punch and The nation newspapers on September 18th & 19th,โ 2025, with a grace periodโข ending September 25th, many operators continued illegal activities.
Government Response โ& Enforcement (Effective Instantly After Sept 25th, 2025):
* Strict Measures: The government isโ now enforcing the following without further notice:
โค * Removal of illegal structures and fillings โlacking proper Environmentalโ Impact Assessment (EIA) and โคDrainage โClearance Certificates.
* seizure of equipment and materials from prohibited sites.
โ โ * Prosecution ofโ offenders underโ Lagos State environmental and Urban Development Laws.
* Recent Actions: Several โฃillegal reclamation โคsites nearโ the Ikota river (Partibons Homesโฃ Estate & Bee-Forth Estate Phase IIโ in Lekki) were sealed off over โthe weekend.โฃ These โsites were found to be blocking key drainage routes.
* Warnings: Theโค government warnsโข against collaboration withโ illegal โขdevelopers or โobstructing enforcement teams, citing potential legal โand physical risks.
Long-Term flood controlโข & Environmental Resilience Plan (Blue-Greenโ Network):
* Integrated Approach: The crackdown is part of โฃa largerโข plan integrating flood control, urban development,โค and ecological โrestoration.
* Blue-Green network: โ A 24-month planโ to connect estate lakes, โขcanals, and โpumps into โa โnetwork to reduce flash floods. This includes:
* Installation of flap gates.
* Restoration of canal rights-of-way.
โ โข* Expansion of major drainage channels.
* Past Achievements (2023-2025):
โฃ* Maintenance of 579km of secondary collectors and 309km of primary channels.
โค * Construction of 218 new drainage channels.
โ โฃ* Emergency โฃFlood Abatement Gang (EFAG) cleared 444km of drains and restored 40km of encroached channels.
* Pilot program developing estate lakes โขfor drainage and flood prevention.
* Future building Approvals: New building approvalsโ will require on-site water retention provisions.
Government Commitment & Public Appeal:
* The government is committed to enforcing environmental regulationsโ and ensuring the sustainability of the coastal system.
* โคResidents โare encouraged to report illegal reclamation sites to the authorities.
In essence, Lagos State is taking a firm stance against illegal land reclamation, combining โimmediate enforcement with a extensive, long-term strategy to mitigate flooding โฃand protect its habitat.